Archive for CSL
Milltown FC At Impact Academy In CSL Debut
MILTON, ON – Milltown FC has completed the process of finalizing its roster for the 2010 season. Director of Soccer Operations and Head Coach, Rafael Carbajal, has been hard at work securing an additional 23 players over the past week, ahead of Milltown FC’s first ever CSL Regular Season match on May 15.
“We have a very disciplined and humble group of players who have proven to me that they are ready to compete and will give all that they’ve got for the club”, said Coach Carbajal. “I am pleasantly surprised by the quality of the players we have been able to find. There are several hidden gems on our roster.”
NEW SIGNINGS
Jason Morgan
Morgan, a 22 year old Brampton, Ontario resident, has impressed the Coach Carbajal with his skill, poise under pressure and tenaciousness.
The central midfielder is currently attending Ryerson University, where he was a member of the Rams’ 2009 Varsity Soccer team. Prior to transferring to Ryerson, Morgan was a scholarship athlete at Oakland City University (Indiana) and was named the school’s 2006 Rookie of the Year. He is also a graduate of Bryst International Football Academy.
Michael Jan
Jan, another member of the 2009 Ryerson Rams Varsity Team, has been a standout at left fullback since being identified at the Milltown FC Open Tryouts.
The 19 year old Toronto native, who was awarded the OUA Rookie of the Year award for his play in the 2009 season, has consistently impressed the coaches throughout training camp.
Brandon De Serpa
De Serpa, 22 years old, is the last player to put his signature on a contract, having joined Milltown FC’s training camp slightly more than a week ago.
The Kitchener, Ontario resident is a talented forward with a very good work rate who has been a top scorer at almost every level he has played. In 2009, De Serpa played for Cambridge PCC Supersonics of the Ontario Soccer League.
Ben Ragan
Ragan, hailing from Guelph, Ontario, was among those players who participated in the Milltown FC Open Tryouts which took place in late March.
The 22 year old Central Defender has been a star for the University of Guelph’s Varsity Soccer Team, earning OUA First Team All-Star Honours in 2009.
Ben is the son of former Canadian National Team Captain, Randy Ragan.
Chad Fernandez
Fernandez, 25 years of age, is a strong, no nonsense defender who can also provide midfield cover.
The Guelph, Ontario native spent some time overseas, first as a member of the youth program for Uruguayan powerhouse Defensor Sporting Club before signing with Montevideo-based Club Atlético Bella Vista.
Danilo Richards
Richards is another Kitchener resident who has joined Milltown FC for the 2010 season, joining Brandon De Serpa and Cordell Benjamin. The Jamaican-born 20 year old forward is blessed with excellent pace and has displayed a strong work ethic throughout training camp.
In addition the club has signed the following Ontario-based players:
| Name | Hometown | Milton Resident | Age |
| Bryan Romero | Milton | ** | 15 |
| Yuri Klinovsky | Toronto | 16 | |
| Ivan Bosnjak | Milton | ** | 17 |
| Daniel Mendez | Richmond Hill | 17 | |
| Alexander Dukovski | Brampton | 18 | |
| Kyle Lynch | Milton | ** | 18 |
| Kyle Pereira | Milton | ** | 18 |
| Thomas Santibanez | Milton | ** | 18 |
| Tyler Grech | Toronto | 19 | |
| Colin Keay | Whitby | 19 | |
| Kevin Pak | Toronto | 19 | |
| Marco Roberti | Bolton | 19 | |
| Elvis Xhameni | Toronto | 19 | |
| Peter Niles | Brampton | 20 | |
| Jesse Mahal | Mississauga | 21 | |
| Romeo Parada | Kitchener | 21 | |
| Colin Lake | Fergus | 22 |
The roster currently sits at 32 players. Milltown FC is hopeful to get good news about two more players from overseas who are hoping to secure the necessary visas to come to Canada to join the club.
More About Milltown FC
Visit the club’s recently updated website for the latest information about season tickets, Founders Club memberships, schedules, player signings and other important team updates.
TFC Academy Takes CSL 2010 Season Opener
A goal by TFC Academy centre back Doneil Henry at 78 minutes was just enough to give TFC Academy a 1-0 victory over Portugal FC in the CSL season opener at the BMO Field in Toronto Saturday night.
The game was the second of a double header at the lakeshore venue that saw Toronto FC down the visiting Chicago Fire 4-1 in MLS action an hour earlier.
The academy team is the senior of two teams entered by Toronto FC in the CSL and tonight’s squad finished last season in fourth position in the National Division, while the TFC Academy II – the junior team – won the CSL Reserve Division title.
It was an even contest throughout and the opener appeared to be heading for a scoreless tie when TFC midfielder Brennan McNicoll lifted the ball into the 6 yard area at the 78th minute mark. TFC’s Nicholas Lindsay looked like scoring when he tipped the ball over the advancing Portugal FC goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas, but it was Henry, who collected the ball to find the net.
Henry is in his second year with TFC Academy and senior team head coach Jason Bent was pleased with the result and his team’s performance. “The players moved the ball well, showing good confidence throughout the game, and that’s important,” he said following the win.
The game was the first of 156 for 13 CSL teams in the one First Division, a season that runs through to October 3 to be followed by the playoffs involving the top eight in the standings. The CSL Championship will be played at the end of October.
Games resume next Saturday, May 15 when Milltown FC visit the Saputo Stadium in Montreal for a game with Montreal Impact Academy and TFC Academy will play a home game at Lamport Stadium, taking on FC Hamilton Croatia. There are four games the following day.
A Lot Has Changed At The Canadian Soccer League
PHOTO: Robin Glover
By Robin Glover Soccer In Toronto
Stan Adamson, Executive Director of the Canadian Soccer League opened yesterday’s 2010 pre-season press conference with three things on his mind:
- 2010 is a World Cup year
- soccer registration is up in Canada
- a lot has changed since the CSL Championship game of October 24th, 2009
The BMO Field Rogers Room meeting came to order at 12:15 pm. At this year’s head table were Eric Barber (Days Inn), Domenic Di Gironimo (CSL commissioner), John Knox (Canadian Soccer Association), Guy Bradbury (Ontario Soccer Association), Bobby Iarusci (friend of the CSL), and Pino Jazbec (CSL).
Adamson outlined some changes to the league.
156 Game Schedule
Negotiating with cities and owners to make a fair 156 game schedule is tough work. The 2010 CSL schedule will see the league operate 13 First Division teams — Brampton Lions, Brantford Galaxy, FC Hamilton Croatia, London City, Milltown FC, Montreal Impact Academy, North York Astros, Portugal FC, Serbian White Eagles, St Catharines Wolves, TFC Academy, Toronto Croatia, and York Regions Shooters. There are four new teams this year:
- Montreal Impact Academy are the reserve team for the Montreal Impact. They are taking the place of the Trois-Rivieres Attak who won the championship last year but are taking one year off and will be back in 2011
- Brantford Galaxy are from a great sports city that brought the country hockey great Wayne Gretzky
- Milltown FC from Milton
- FC Hamilton Croatia who have a long history at the senior level and have large attendances in Hamilton over the years
The Reserve Division will field 10 teams. London City, Montreal Impact Academy, and Toronto Croatia will be the only teams to not be part of the Reserve League.
New Commissioner, New Sponsors, New Connections
The league has appointed Domenic Di Gironimo as its new commissioner. Previously, Di Gironimo was involved as a silent partner in the Trois Rivieres Attak and Laval Dynamite. He moved up the ranks to be the league commissioner which he says is an honour.
In his remarks, Di Gironimo thanked the owners for their commitment to change. He reported that the league was restructured as a non-profit organization and has gained sanctioning from the CSA. The new commissioner said he will work governance closely with the governing bodies of Canadian soccer.
Getting Connected is the new CSL mantra. On the marketing side, Di Gironimo thanked three organizations for their commitments.
The CSL has announced Givova Sports from Italy as the ball and uniform supplier for the league. Givova is new in the big leagues of sportswear, having created the trademark at the beginning of 2009. The company founder, Giovanni Acanfora, has more than 20 years of experience in the sportswear business. The international apparel and equipment supplier sponsors teams and sports organizations in various countries.
Days Inn also has a new agreement with the CSL. The hotel chain will provide teams overnight accommodation especially for road games to Montreal and for the Montreal team coming to Southern Ontario. Eric Barber from the Days Inn said the company was looking to get into the sports market which is the one area that has shown growth for the hospitality industry. They will provide special rates for travelling fans.
Rogers Cable are scheduled to show 45 regular season games plus the playoffs and the championship game. Most games will be broadcast live and the coverage will provide wonderful exposure for the league. Willy Jong from Rogers said there will be an expansion of games that are covered.
For games in the Toronto area, every game will be produced in High Definition. The games will be broadcast beyond the local area. All the live games that are broadcast to just the local area will be available on the Rogers Super-Sports-Pack. Any subscriber can watch them which means as far away as New Brunswick and the other areas of Southern Ontario that are not in the local area. (eg. A Friday game at London City involving North York Astros will be available for Toronto area residents). There will be a weekly league results/magazine show too.
The CSL will be upgrading its website as well. The new website will have e-mail newsletters, podcasts, new connections with such publications as Inside Soccer Magazine among other things. Don Buddo and John Parker from Rightfast will launch the new CSL website next week.
But the real future of the CSL belongs to the young elite players. Canada does not have a full soccer development structure. While Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps do provide professional development they do not on a broad Canadian front.
So the real story is about young talent now staying in Canada rather than having to leave the country. Getting Connected means that professional and youth soccer come together with strong ties, a strong vision and higher standards including getting the cities to provide quality facilities to play in like these towns.
John Knox of the CSA spoke of the need for the CSL to develop young players to feed the pro teams and the National teams. Guy Bradbury from the OSA said this was an important time for soccer renewal. Bob Iarusci talked of the CSL being the missing link, the melting pot, the push to excel, the commitment to their cities and local soccer youth clubs.
Time To Mingle
Ryan Gauss of London City is back for another year of owner/management and said their team is ready to sign four players from FC London (PDL league) who have finished their NCAA commitments and want to play in a league that doesn’t end in July.
Jason Bent of TFC Academy said the club still has self imposed age restrictions on their reserve and senior teams so this year such 20 year olds like James Stamatopoulos and Daniel Di Biagio will not be back and could end up playing on other CSL clubs.
Tony DeThomasis answered my question about why his team has changed its name from Italia Shooters back to York Region Shooters. He said that’s so they can show that have the York County territory. He can remember now Toronto FC player Adrian Cann playing for the team in 2002 and can remember hearing his teammates calling him ‘Peaches’ on the field when they wanted him to pass to them. He, like me, didn’t know why he had that nickname. Over the years I’ve narrowed it down between the fuzzy afro hair he had back then or that Cann and Peaches went together like “Can of Peaches”.
The season starts this Saturday with one game on the first weekend. TFC Academy against Portugal FC. I will be at the Toronto FC game earlier in the afternoon and can just stay for the later game. I couldn’t come with any sure way of getting a lineup of the CSL game without being able to cross the field and asking the fourth official to let me copy down the game sheets.
Another Fresh Start For The CSL
Duane Rollins
is a Toronto based journalist reach him at The 24th Minute
In a League of their own
The Canadian Soccer League can trace its history back to 1926. It’s still trying to find itself.
Although the history is long the CSL has a tendency to reinvent itself every few years. Today at BMO Field the latest vision for the league that is roughly the equivalent of the USL-2 in the United States was unveiled. If I wasn’t a cynical man I’d just about suggest that they are finally getting it right.
Since cynicism is a prerequisite of being a Canadian soccer supporter (or, alternatively, a lack of sanity) we’re all going to wait to see whether action will back up the plentiful words that were spoken today (and spoken in good faith, no doubt).
